Seattle

Seattleites are sometimes scorned for their fashion sense (polar fleece, sport sandals, and socks—oh my!), but as the city has grown and enough money has percolated through the ranks of retail, the city's style barometer has made a steady creep upward. Bibliophiles, foodies, wine aficionados, and design-centrists will also find plenty of shopping opportunities—Seattle is a hotbed of unique, independent shops stocking one-of-a-kind treasures.

Shopping in Seattle is something best done gradually. Don't expect to find it all in one or two days worth of blitz shopping tours. Downtown is the only area that allows for easy daylong shopping excursions. Within a few blocks along 4th and 5th Avenues, you'll find the standard chains (The Gap, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Anthropologie, Sephora, Old Navy), along with Nike's flagship store, and a few more glamorous high-end stores, some featuring well-known designers like Gucci . Downtown is also where you'll find department stores like Nordstrom, Macy's, and Barneys New York. Belltown and Pioneer Square are also easy areas to patrol—most stores of note are within a few blocks.

To find many of the stores that are truly special to Seattle—such as boutiques featuring handmade frocks from local designers, independent record stores run by encyclopedic-minded music geeks, cozy used-book shops that smell of paper and worn wood shelves—you'll have to branch out to Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and northern neighborhoods like Ballard. Shopping these areas will give you a better feel for the character of the city and its quirky inhabitants, all while you score that new dress or nab gifts for your friends.

And don’t forget about Seattle’s culinary bounty, which includes the stalls at Pike Place Market; the flagship Sur La Table, which stocks every kitchen gadget known to man; and the city’s various weekly farmers' markets, where you’ll find enough locally made, artisanal offerings to fill a suitcase or two.

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  • 1. Blue Owl Workshop

    A short stroll from the big tech companies based along the canal, Blue Owl encourages male shoppers to go beyond the ubiquitous khakis and polos of the tech world with high-end denim, leather goods, and other clothing and accessories from Japan, Canada, Europe, and the USA. The Pacific Northwest-friendly flannel shirts may cost a small fortune but they’re the softest you’ve ever felt. Blue Owl also has a reputation for carrying Seattle’s best selection of raw denim---once broken in, the highly coveted small-batch jeans supposedly provide an unsurpassed look and fit.

    124 N.W. Canal St., Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
    206-849–6500
  • 2. Burnt Sugar

    If there's a rocket on the roof, then you've found Burnt Sugar—or you've gone too far and are in Cape Canaveral. This hip and funky shop focuses on cool shoes but also offers a mélange of handbags, greeting cards, soaps, candles, jewelry, toys, children's gifts, makeup, and other eclectic baubles you never knew you needed.

    601 N. 35th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    888-545–0699
  • 3. Daybreak Records

    Few things have made a bigger comeback in recent years than vinyl records. Daybreak Records, a small, stylishly outfitted shop with a roll-up door for warm days, stocks a great, varied selection of mint used vinyl, including deep-catalog albums, plus a lot of 45s. Local audiophiles adore this place.

    4323 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-268–0702
  • 4. Dusty Strings

    A Seattle institution since 1979, Dusty Strings has long been delighting folk and roots music lovers with beautifully crafted hammered dulcimers, harps, guitars of all stripes, banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins. The relaxed shop invites hands-on browsing, and the lilting strains of traditional melodies often fill the space.

    3406 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-634–1662

    Shop Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.--Mon.
  • 5. Essenza

    A gurgling stone fountain stands in the center of this light-filled boutique, where airy displays showcase delicately scented European bath products by Santa Maria Novella, Tocca, and Cote Bastide. You'll find the complete line of Fresh cosmetics, handmade bed linens, women's loungewear and lingerie, delicate jewelry, and exquisitely detailed children's clothing.

    615 N. 35th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-547–4895

    Shop Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.-Tues.
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  • 6. evo Seattle

    For outdoor gear with an edgy vibe, locals head to evo, which specializes in snow-sports and also carries a solid selection of seasonal street clothes for men and women. You'll find everything you need to shred Washington's big mountains in style, from fat powder skis and snowboards with wild graphics to flashy ski jackets and thick woolen beanies. (Since opening in 2011, evo has gone binational with 11 locations in the USA and Canada.)  evo shares its industrial-modern "campus" with the restaurants Joule and The Whale Wins. Seattle's only indoor skatepark, All Together Skatepark, is also right next door.

    3500 Stone Way N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-973–4470
  • 7. Fremont Vintage Mall

    Goods from about 25 vendors are crammed into every conceivable corner of this bi-level space, so you'll likely score at least something to take home (or giggle at in nostalgia). Clothing, furniture, and collectible art are among the finds, and the mall's eye-catching assortment of kitschy retro stuff is fun to look through whether you're a serious collector or just an innocent bystander. The Jive Time Records Annex is also a tenant. It's easy to walk right past this place—look carefully for the door and then proceed down the flight of stairs.

    3419 Fremont Pl. N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-548–9140
  • 8. Les Amis

    Women whose sartorial leanings go beyond basic will adore the sophisticated dresses, gorgeous handknits, and the makings of great work outfits here, much of it from Europe and Japan. Younger fashionistas come here, too, for unique summer skirts and ultrasoft T-shirts. Everyone seems to love the whimsical lingerie collection. Les Amis carries some top designers, such as Dosa, Isabel Marant, and Nanette Lepore.

    3420 Evanston Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-632–2877

    Shop Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.-Tue.
  • 9. Ophelia's Books

    With a tiny spiral staircase leading to the basement, and resident cats wandering through the tightly packed aisles, Ophelia's offers a classic used-bookstore experience in an age when so many are disappearing. The owner is known for her excellent taste, and it shows—you'll find major titles from notable authors as well as obscure works and poetry books. Be sure to ask for recommendations—she'll be happy to help.

    3504 Fremont Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-632–3759
  • 10. Outsider Comics and Geek Boutique

    Comics and geek culture may be more popular than ever but many fans still feel underserved by the shops catering to the traditional audience. Enter Outsider Comics and Geek Boutique, a small, welcoming space that showcases comics and more created by and for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The unique selection might even make a new comics appreciator out of you.

    223 N. 36th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-535–8886

    Shop Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 11. Pipe and Row

    Modern, minimalist clothing feels effortlessly stylish when it’s good quality like the looks you’ll find at this chic boutique, a surprisingly friendly place to browse. Think basic tees, on-trend denim, simple jewelry, and pieces with edgier details that are still highly wearable. Brands include Richer Poorer, AGOLDE, Ganni, and Mandinga, a Uruguayan line known for signature bold prints.

    611 N. 35th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-632–0720
  • 12. Show Pony

    With a mix of new, used, and locally designed clothing, Show Pony is a great spot to grab reasonably priced girly frocks and fabulous accessories. Especially good is the used/vintage section upstairs, which mostly stocks designer labels. Jewelry, perfume, gifts, and home-decorating items round out the collection.

    702 N. 35th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-706–4188
  • 13. The Uncommon Cottage

    Painted classic gothic purple on the outside, this charming cottage shop is stuffed with the “weird and whimsical.” From candles with cheeky, not-safe-for-work names to locally made jewelry and funny socks, you’ll find loads of quirky gift items here, especially for the goths in your life—the Furrybones figurines with skeletal smiles are darkly adorable.

    465 N. 36th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-483–7949

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